Chennai to be free from nightmarish December deluge

Chennai: Chennai and suburbs will be free from the nightmarish December deluge (in 2015), as the state government has proposed to ensure a mechanism to prevent frequent floods during northeast monsoon.

The Tamil Nadu government has proposed a Rs 100 crore flood-mitigation programme for areas falling under the Greater Chennai Corporation limits, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami informed the Assembly on Friday. During the northeast monsoon, certain areas, including those near Adyar, Cooum and Kosasthalai river beds faced flooding, and hence the proposal. 

The government would identify areas having risk of more damage and take up various works, including creating link channels to nearby lakes to facilitate free flow of water during rains, deepening various water bodies and create a flood-control system.

About Rs 100 crore will be allocated in the current financial year for the purpose. Chennai and nearby areas had faced a deluge in 2015 following torrential rains during the NE monsoon, inundating several areas and displacing the people.

In a seperate announcement, Palaniswami proposed allocating a sum of Rs 1.50 crore towards giving a face-lift for state run Poompuhar showrooms in Chennai, Kolkata, Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur aiming to attract more consumers and enhancing sales. The Poompuhar showrooms showcase and sell handicratf and other articles, mainly made by artisans.

Further, Poompuhar will hold annual 'Handifest' here in association with India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) and Export Promotion Council for Handicraft (EPCH). The move was aimed at creating market opportunities for artisans and promote export and earn foreign exchange, he said while earmarking Rs 2 crore annually to conduct the event.